With New York City FC's loss last night to Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the US Open Cup, the club will not advance to the Round of 16 and add another match to an already busy schedule. Still, NYCFC will play eight times in four weeks, equalling the busiest run of games in the history of the organization.
The last time it happened was in 2022, and also in May. The similarities don't end there. That congested schedule was also due to New York City playing in the US Open Cup.
But the 2022 games were mostly held at home, with six of the eight hosted by New York City. The schedule this year is less forgiving, with four of the nine to be played on the road. New York City will play two consecutive midweek away games, then finish the month on the road at Nashville SC.
That 2022 squad put up stunning results, going undefeated in those eight games by logging seven wins and one draw. The team notched seven clean sheets, allowing only a single goal the entire month — and that was scored by Rochester NY FC. It should be noted that the 2022 squad was firing on all cylinders, and playing with the core that won the 2021 MLS Cup. A team that had Taty Castellanos headlining the attack, Sean Johnson in goal, and Maxime Chanot and Alexander Callens were partnered in central defense, took 15 out of a possible 18 points in league play.
The 2025 edition of the team is a work in progress: As John Baney wrote in these pages, it's unclear if New York City is contending or rebuilding. But the scheduling gods don't care about rosters, and they have decreed that this team will play another six games in the next 23 days.
